O'Kane was selected to head the Albanese Government's 12-month Australian Universities Accord review in November 2022, releasing the final report in February 2024.
Her work included conducting an independent review of coal seam gas related activities, focussing on human health and environmental impacts.
[7] She examined at the request of government, the state's energy security,[8] the decline of koala populations,[9] rail coal dust emissions,[10] and road tunnel air quality.
[12] In March 2022, O'Kane and former NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller were appointed to lead an inquiry into the causes of and response to the 2022 eastern Australia floods.
[15] The Final Report was released in February 2024, making 47 recommendations to reform the higher education system, aiming to improve access and outcomes for diverse student cohorts and to support it more than doubling in size by 2050.
[19] In 2014, O'Kane was awarded the Pearcey Medal to honour her contribution to the development and growth of the ICT professions, research and industry.